1st convention to pick Detroit after bankruptcy pleased with Cobo, city

Jul. 18, 2014

Dan Risley

Written by

Detroit Free Press Business Writer

What it is: Convention for the Automotive Service Association When it is: July 30-Aug. 2 Who it’s for: Automotive repair professionals. Where it is: Cobo Center.

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About year ago, Dan Risley, president of the Automotive Service Association took a big risk, deciding for the first time to hold the organization’s annual convention in Detroit.

Not Las Vegas. Not Orlando. Detroit.

Risley made the announcement in Boston a year ago Monday, two days after Detroit filed for bankruptcy.

“When I said Detroit, their jaws dropped,” Risley said. “I told them, ‘Don’t worry about Detroit’s bankruptcy, it has no impact on the show.’ ”

The association of car repair professionals, headquartered in Colleyville, Texas, normally picks tourist destinations for its convention. But Risley said the association wanted to shake up the event and decided that holding it in the cradle of the auto industry made more sense.

Now, with the conference less than two weeks away, the convention, which runs July 30-Aug. 2, is expected to bring between 7,000 and 10,000 people to town.

This year, the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau said that metro Detroit will host 12 multi-hotel meetings, more than double the number of 2013. Cobo Center’s new atrium and renovation are attracting more business.

Risley said officials at Cobo and the City of Detroit have enabled the conference to do things other cities rejected. He said the city’s Fire Department deserves credit for being flexible with the association’s requests.

For example, Cobo will allow the ASA to set aside 20,000 square feet on the convention floor for live painting and repair demonstrations. Cars will be allowed to idle while repair technicians demonstrate how to run diagnostic tests.

Other convention centers demanded that such activities could only be done outdoors.

Nationally renowned custom car designer Chip Foose and members of the Gas Monkey Garage — a custom car design shop in Texas that has a show on the Discovery Channel — will be featured.

General Motors, Ford and Chrysler have stepped up with bigger sponsorships and are providing speakers.

“This is probably the most diverse and complex conference that we have every prepared,” Risley said. “No other cities have allowed us to do the things we are going to do in Detroit.”